Storage Tips & Pre-Move Advice

• Sort items out before you move - Try to throw out as much as you can at your old home. This means you have less to pack and don't need to start out at your new home by sorting through everything. There is also less to move, which makes it faster and cheaper.
• Tips for packing: Pack each carton to the brim to avoid them collapsing over time in storage. Delicate items such as stem glasses should be packed in the middle layers of a carton standing upright and being buffered by layers of linen.
• Lounges can be stored standing on their end, utilising less floor space. It is recommended that lounges be covered with a plastic protector if storing for a long period of time. Leather lounges must sit flat on the floor and cannot have objects stacked on top as imprint damage will occur over time. Nor can leather lounges be covered with plastic as leather will sweat and eventually crack. It is recommended that leather be covered with a cotton sheet to protect against dust settlement.
• We recommend mattress covers to protect bedding and furniture which should be put on at the storage facility to avoid the covers tearing during transit.
• Mothballs are also recommended for the added protection of clothing and linen during long term storage.
• It is a good idea for storers to number cartons when packing and compile a manifest of the contents of each carton to make the job of unpacking much easier, especially if the goods are going to be in storage for a long period of time.
• Pack fragile items into smaller boxes to alleviate pressure on these items. Mark these cartons "FRAGILE".
• Heavier items should be packed into the bottom of cartons to avoid damage to lighter, smaller items in the same carton.
• Clothing and manchester items are better packed into flexible type containers, eg striped plastic zip top bags, as they can be pushed in between furniture in a packed storage unit to fill any gaps.
• Pillows and bean bags should be packed in plastic bags to keep them clean during transit and storage.
• VCR's stereos and televisions should be either wrapped in bubblewrap or sealed into cartons and marked "FRAGILE".
• Create a separate "valuables" carton - This should contain all those "easy to lose" and "hard to find" items such as remote controls, bed legs, shelf supports and keys to furniture cabinets.
• Long term storers requiring access to their goods whilst in storage should pack seasonal clothing, personal documents and effects, etc near the door of the unit for easy access.
• Drawer space and cupboard space can be utilised by packing smaller items into them when storing them in the unit, ultimately saving space.
• When moving furniture and goods out of a house, it is a good idea to group cartons and smaller items of furniture in one room to cut down on removalist time and removal cost.
• Those first hours in your new home will be a lot less stressful if you've packed a survival kit. It should contain a kettle, tea and coffee, favourite toys for the kids, baby food and supplies, pet leads and collars and other essentials to help you hit the ground running and organised. 

For more tips you can visit our website at www.globalselfstorage.com.au